LAWS OF MARYLAND

1842

or any other justice as are had in similar cases in the coun-
ty court, to avail the plaintiff of the responsibility of the
special hail in default of the surrender of the defendant in
execution, within sixty days after such default and notice
thereof to such bail.

CHAP. 293.

CHAPTER 293.

An act to regulate conjugal rights as they regard property.

Passed March
10, 1843.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That from and after the passage of this act, any
married woman may become seized or possessed of any
property, real or of slaves by direct bequest, demise, gift,
purchase or distribution, in her own name, and as of her

Married wo-
man may hold
property, &c.

own property; provided the same does not come from her
husband after coverture.

Proviso.

SEC. 2.. And be it enacted, That hereafter when any wo-
man possessed of a property in slaves, shall marry, her
property in such slaves and their natural increase shall con-
tinue to her, notwithstanding her coverture, and she shall
have, hold and possess the same as her separate property,
exempt from any liability for the debts or contracts of the
husband.

Her properly
not responsi-
ble for hus-
bands debts.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That when any woman du-
ring coverture shall become entitled to or possessed of
slaves by conveyance, gift, inheritance, distribution or
otherwise, such slaves, together with, their natural increase,
shall entire And belong to the wife in like manner as is above
provided as to slaves which she may possess at the time of
marriage.

Slaves by gift
bequest, &c.
enure to the
wife.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That the control awl man-
agement of all such slaves, the direction of their labour and
the receipts of the productions thereof, shall remain to the
husband agreeably to the laws heretofore in force, all suits
to recover the property or possession of such slaves shall
be prosecuted or defended as the case may be, in the joint
names of the husband and wife, in case of the death of the
wife, such slaves shall descend and go to her children and their
descendant, subject to the use of the husband during life
without liability to his creditors, and if she die without
leaving children living, or descendants of such children
living, they shall descend and go to the husband.

Control and
management
of slaves, &c.
to remain to
the husband.

SEC. 5. Be it enacted, That the slaves owned by a
feme covert under the provisions of this act, may be sold
33

May be sold
by the joint
deed of hus-
band and wife.